Wednesday, May 21, 2008

Defying Gravity

Our oldest angel is finished with school and is home for the summer.  Being home for the summer is not what it used to be, as she is an independent young adult now who has a life which is separate yet still intermingled with ours.  I love having her at home.  We all love having her at home.  I realize that her days in the nest will soon be numbered since she is now entering her senior year in college, but there is something about having all of my angels ensconced safely underneath the same roof that allows me to sleep more peacefully at night.  I think that most Moms feel that way.

Several years ago, Angel Daughter Number One introduced our family to the musical, Wicked. If you are not familiar with the story, it is based on the 1995 novel that tells the story of, "The Wizard of Oz", from the Wicked Witch of the West's perspective.  The Wizard of Oz, which was first published over a century ago did not divulge much of the Witch's past nor did it go into her relationship with Galinda the Good Witch.  Wicked gave the reader great insight into how and why the Wicked Witch of the West turned out the way that she did. (She was not really wicked at all, but in some ways the attributes which others labeled her with made her appear to be someone she wasn't.)   When Wicked was made into a musical it took Broadway by storm, and the story of Elphaba(The Wicked Witch of the West) finally had it's day.  The musical is wonderful.  It is funny, touching, and for some reason, I can totally relate to the story of Elphaba.  As a matter of fact, I believe that there are many individuals who would relate strongly to her story.  My first experience seeing Wicked was on Broadway in NYC.  We loved it so much that we ended up seeing it a second time when it came to Los Angeles.  I could sit through it a dozen times and never get bored.  I could be Elphaba if my skin-tone was just a little bit greener in color.
Tonight, AD1 is going to see Wicked with her boyfriend The Cheesemiester, her lovely roommate Tessa, and Tessa's boyfriend.  While she was beautifying herself for the evening, I decided to harass her by following her around with the camera for a bit.  After all, it isn't often that I get to do that anymore! (Besides, if she is ever going to be a famous actor, she needs to get used to the paparazzi now!)  It was fun watching her primp and fluff for her big evening in Los Angeles, and as I watched her go through her routine, it reminded me of how far she has come in just twenty short years.  From my sweet, little angel baby to this beautiful young woman, I could almost visualize her at every single age she has been within the memory of my heart.  Bittersweet and absolutely inspiring, I soaked in every moment without getting too mushy.With her two youngest sisters working as her fashion consultants(AD2 was out looking at college housing for next fall or I am sure that she would have had something to add), she finished getting ready and honored me with one of her campiest, most theatrical poses.  When she finished her outfit with some four-inch heels, she stood a good ten inches above my head.  We all got a very good laugh out of that, and although my younger girls wanted me to take a photo next to her(I don't really mind that my short stature is a source of amusement for them.), I had to refuse as I never really ended up getting dressed today and so I didn't want to memorialize the moment.

As we kissed goodnight, and AD1 teetered out the door(heels will do that!), I made sure to etch the moment upon my heart.  It won't be long before AD1 uses her wings to begin "defying gravity".  After all, she has been test-flying them for the past several years and I think they are almost dry now.(Big sigh...)  Ever since she has gone off to college, I have been making sure to record as much of the teenage years, for all of my angels, as I did of the younger years.  I think we sometimes forget that growth and change is not something which only occurs when our children are little and still losing teeth.  There is a lot that can be cherished between the twelve year old molars and the Wisdom teeth extractions; if we remember that our children's growth is something that will continue to happen even as their physical growth slows.  These four angels, this angel, will always be my little girls.  I will guard their history as only a dedicated mother can do, so that when they ask me someday what they were like at six months, six years, or sixteen years, I will have stories to pull from within the depths of my heart.  And they will know that they were(are, will always be)as important to me as the day they were born.

From the tips of their tiny, down feathers to the majestic lengths of their fully-formed wings.  They will know.

12 comments:

Catherine Holman said...

You are just the most precious mother to four beautiful girls!
What blessings!
Hugs,
Cathie

Ness said...

What a wonderful blog entry! Know that those 4 angels have the best mother in the world. The reason I started my blog was to give my kids an insight on their mom and to be able to notate things that were important to me. Our kids will be glad they have our blogs to read some day. My girls would love to see Wicked so I hope it comes somewhere close to us so we can go and see it some day.

Laura ~Peach~ said...

what a wonderful mom... I am so happy to be a part of your world it can only help me to be a better mom!
Love n hugs Laura

kim-d said...

I'm thankful for you, Deb; always thankful for you. Those pictures of AD1 are beautiful; beautiful pix of a most beautiful young woman. As are all of your ADs, and I can only imagine that their physical beauty, while great, pales in comparison to their beauty within. With you as their Mom, I don't know how it could be any different. If all children came from a family like yours, the world would be a much happier, better place. I so look forward to the future for you and your Angel Daughters; I can't wait to see the great things they go on to do. Gentle hugs and love, Debbie--thank you for sharing you with me; you are appreciated :).

NeereAnDear said...

Too cute!!! I am going to have to spend some time reading your past posts... I know ... I am sorry that I have been MIA... I am in the throws of getting this all put together.. as you could see from your comment on mine... busy is an understatment ... and I am still not finished...

Thank you for stopping by... I am sorry I have been missing... will try to do better.. but forgive me if I dont for a little bit longer and dont give up on me...putting this all together by myself ...including doing the admin is difficult..

HUGS

JO

Irene Latham said...

Deb, my mother always loves for us kids to come back and spend the night. She says just what you said -- that there is something so comforting and "right" about having the offspring back under her roof. And reading your post, I realize what I am missing having a daughter! All that primping and those high heels. :) Yet I have just the same feelings about my boys growing up and learning to soar. I had been wondering about Wicked... we are going to NYC this summer so maybe we'll see it! xxoo

Anonymous said...

So awesome a Mom you are! Daughter number one will be a star, she is lovely. I took my best friend to see WICKED last November for her 50th birthday. It was great! Want to see it again and again. I love reading your posts.

Bogart said...

Very cool...

But you should tell her to clean her room if she is going to be living under your roof! ;-)

tj said...

...Aww Debra, she's beautiful! She looks just like you! :o)

...You are a blessing and truly blessed too...

...Have a wonderful weekend!

...Blessings... :o)

Melissa @ The Inspired Room said...

{sniffle, choke}

so many emotions us moms go through as they are spreading their wings...capturing it all in our hearts, knowing each moment is fleeting...

{sniffle, smile}

xoxo

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful young woman! Nice post!

Laura ~Peach~ said...

missing you deb! hope you are having a great MAy
Love n hugs
laura

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